"And were there not soldiers and priests and lawyers and centurions and Senators clamoring to have speech with him? And did not Claudia pass out the word that he was engaged in matters of importance to Tiberius?"
"Thou makest my inwards to shake with choked laughter when thou sayest this—'business of importance to Tiberius.'"
"Yea—and wherefore the smothered laughter. Is not the important business of Caesar Tiberius the putting away of much wine, even as is the business of Pilate?"
"Yea. But Tiberius doth have a deputy to satisfy the demands for him."
"And some are as insistent as itch."
"Yea, like the broad Jew whose foot caught in the blue and purple cloak he let drag in his desire to be heard."
"His business was urgent by the glittering eagerness of his two small eyes."
"Yea, and the gold he held forth did glitter better than his Jew eyes as he said, 'My mission is urgent! One hath arisen against the Empire yet doth Pontius Pilate not come forth nor give audience to message bearers.'"
"'He seeth neither god nor man until his business of importance to Tiberius is finished, since first of all he is Caesar's friend,' did I make answer, straight-faced and solemn, for who would feel the fire of the branding iron for a bit of gold? Then it was his countenance became entangled in anger as his foot became entangled in his blue cloak, and he did breathe out a curse."
"The curse of a Jew is no curse since it must be swallowed if it is against Rome. But look thee toward the steps. On my life a messenger cometh."